Shloka 8
Chapter 49: Sañjaya’s Enumeration of the Pāṇḍava Coalition (पाण्डवसैन्यसमागम-वर्णनम्)
ब्राह्माण्यो राजपुत्र्यश्न विशां दुहितरश्न या: । क्रीडन्त्योडभिसमायान्ति पार्थ संनद्धमीक्षितुम्,ब्राह्मणों, क्षत्रियों तथा वैश्योंकी कन्याएँ भी खेलती-खेलती युद्धके लिये सुसज्जित युधिष्ठिरको देखनेके लिये उनके पास आ जाती हैं
brāhmaṇyo rājaputryaś ca viśāṃ duhitaraś ca yāḥ | krīḍantyo 'bhisamāyānti pārtha saṃnaddham īkṣitum ||
サンジャヤは言った。「バラモンの乙女たち、王家の姫君たち、そしてヴァイシャの娘たちまでもが—遊び戯れながら—前へ進み出て、今や武具を整え戦に備えたパールタを見ようと集まって来る。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the imminence of war turns the warrior’s readiness into a public and social event, drawing attention across social groups. It implicitly reflects the Mahābhārata’s concern with how kṣatriya duty (being prepared for battle) is witnessed and evaluated by society, and how collective fascination can surround the approach of conflict.
Sañjaya describes young women from different social strata—Brahmin maidens, princesses, and Vaiśya daughters—coming while at play to look upon Pārtha (Arjuna) as he stands armed and prepared for war.